Garment-form.



A. DE L. SMITH.

GARMENT FORM.

APPLICATION man nEc.22. 1914.

l ,206,934. Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

- m man1uluulllmnnnnmz l N V E N TO R 1 Annes/ey .Decs Smith UNTER@ STATES PATENT FFE.

ANNESLEY DE LOS SMITH, OF NEXV YORK, N. Y.

GARMENT-FORM.

Application filed December 22, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANNESLEY DE Los SMITH, a citizen of the United States of America, and residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Garment-Forms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to garment forms of the pneumatic or inflated type.

The main objects are to facilitate fitting at the hips and the draping and marking of the skirt by a relatively cheap construction that will accurately reproduce the lines of the human figure and which can be readily adjusted to different sizes and styles of figure and which can be folded compactly for storage and shipment.

Another object is to protect the pneumatic form from injury.

These objects I have accomplished in the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing by using an elastic inflatable bust or waist form which is molded to proper bust and waist configuration by an incasing jacket of relatively inelastic material and by obtaining the proper hip and skirt configuration by a properly shaped band supported atthe hip line, which will ordinarily be at a point below the inflated form and to which dependent portions of the jacket are attached. Preferably such dependent hip portions of the jacket will be provided by simply making the shaped jacket long enough to extend from the inflated bust' form down to the band below the same. These dependent portions provide a ready means for fitting a skirt in position on the form. A skirt marker is also preferably provided at the-base as a gage for the bottom of the skirt. This marker and the hip band may be circumferentially adjustable. The bust portion and the hip band are pref erably adjustably supported to correspond with the height of the user. Connecting means, such as tapes will usually beprovided between the lower edge of the jacket and the skirt marker and these connections will preferably be made adjustable for different lengths of skirts and for the purpose of varying the tension on the inflated form .or for tilting the fOlIIl 011e Way or another.

Specification of Letters Patent.

4Patented Dee. 5, 1916.

seriai No. 878,597.

A further special feature is an adjustable shaping device by which the requisite shape can be imparted to certain portions of the inflated form.

I also protect the pneumatic form and facilitate pinning to the jacket by interposing a layer of material such as cotton-batting.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

Figure l, is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2, is a broken sectional view showing portions of the base, pneumatic bust form, jacket and hip band. Fig. 3, is a similar view, showing one form of adjustable shaping device. Fig. 4L, is a broken detail view of a modified form of fastening for the skirt form tapes. Fig. 5, is a broken sectional view of a modification wherein the hip band is supported at a point above the base for the pneumatic form.

The body portion of the device consistsy of an elastic inflated form 7, incased within and molded to the desired configuration by a relatively inelastic inclosing jacket 8 which has first been fitted to the person and so is of the requisite size and shape. The elastic form is usually made of rubber or rubberized cloth and is provided with a valved inlet 9 by which it can be inflated. The jacket is usually made of relatively heavy cloth, such as canvas or duck.

A soft lining 10 of cotton-batting or the like spaces the jacket away from the form and thus prevents puncturing as well as making it easier to pin into the jacket. This lining, which sometimes-may be made of heavier material, is preferably secured t0 the jacket as by stitching it thereto while temporarily supporting the jacket inside out on the inflated form.

The inflated form is mounted on a suitable base 1l and this in turn is preferably carried by a suitable stand or pedestal 12. Adjustment for height is obtained by adjustably supporting-the base onthe stand as by means of a standard 13, having telescopic sections which aresecured in adjusted relation by a clamp 14. The feet 15 may be removably secured to the stand 12 by bolts and nuts such as 16.

The inflatable form is of the size and general shape necessary to provide for the bust and waist formation and the larger formation necessary for the hips is provided for by a band lor similar shaping element 20 supported in position to continue the lines of the inflated form. This hip shaping band is shown in Figs. 1 toB supported below the inflated form in loops 2l formed in the dependent arms 22 of the brackets 23 which are. secured adjustably to the underside of the base by screws 24 passing` through slots 25 in such brackets. The loops 21 are, as indicated in Figs. Q and 3 preferably large enough to allow a limited vertical adjustment of the band therein and the band is preferably made adjustable to different hips by constructing it of Va continuous strip whose ends overlap as indicated a't 26 in Fig. 2 and are held in adjusted relation' by a surrounding clip or holder 27.

The larger portion of the hip formation is provided by dependent extensions of the jacket, such extensions being here shown simply as downward continuations 30 of such jacket. These dependent portions of the acket are attached to the hip band and when so attached they provide the necessary lines from the commencement of the hip curves down to the full maximum hip diameter. This feature will be best understood from Figs. 1 and 2, particularly the latter, wherein is shown how the bust form need be made only long enough to start the hip curves and how the jacket extension is held distended by the hip band so as to continue these curves down to the maximum hip dimensions. The attachment of the dependent hip portions of the jacket is here effected by securing hooks 31 to the lower edge of such portions which are engaged with the band.

To provide lines upon which to build the skirt, connections such as strips, cords, wiresor tapes 35 are preferably provided from the hip formation down to the supporting base or pedestal of the device. These skirt form strips, which may be of fabric or of metal, as found best suited to the purpose, are shown connected at their lower ends to a bottom band 36 carried by the pedestal and at their upper ends they are shown connected to the hip band by means of buckles v37 slidably engaged on that band. These buckles may be of any suitable construction, the ones shown in Figs. 1 and 2, having slidable bars 38 clamping the ends of the tapes in adjusted relation.

It will be obvious that other forms of buckles or adjustable fastening devices may be provided for the tapes. For instance, clasps of the type formerly employed to a large extent in hose supporters may be pro'- vided by simply making keyhole slots in the hip band as indicated at 40 in Fig. lrthlugh which the tapes may be first drawn and then fastened by pulling them down into the narrow necks of the slots.

The bottom band 36 is preferably made adjustable to suit dierent skirt diameters, it being for this purpose shown made from a continuous strip of steel or the like with its ends overlapping as indicated at 45 and heldl in adjusted relation by a suitable keeper 4G. This band is shown carried by brackets 47 adjustably clampedv on the pedestal by clamp screws` 48, the brackets being slotted as indicated at 49 to permit of their being adjusted in or out for different diameters. j

To impart special shape to portions of the ligure I may provide one or more shaping devices such as illustrated in detail in Fig. 3. The shaping device there shown serves to shape the back of the pneumatic form and consists of a plate 50l of the required shape projecting upwardly so as to engage the inflated form at the rear thereof. This shaping element is conveniently mounted on the rearmcst band-supporting bracket 23. The shaping device, (or devices if there be more than one) is preferably adjusted for the purpose of compressing the form more or less, as required and such adjustment may be accomplished simply by shifting the bracket which supports it in or out more or less. It is preferred however that the shaping ele` ment be adjustable independently of' its supporting bracket so that the adjustment of the shaping element can be made independently of the adjustment of the hip band. The shaping element is therefore shown as movably supported on its bracket as by being pivoted thereto at 51 and shifted by means of an adjusting screw 52, engaged in a screw seat formed in a lug 53 struck down from the body of the bracket.

The construction disclosed provides the smooth natural curves of bust, waist and hips, a noteworthy feature being the ab sence of any bulge or protuberance at the base of the inflated form, such as has heretofore been present in most pneumatic forms. The connections from the hip formation form straight continuations of the hip lines downward and so'provide the necessary lines upon which to build the skirt. By properly adjusting the tapes the inliated form may be tilted forward or backward or to one side to suit different figures. The bottom band provides a ready means for properly measuring lthe skirt length. j

The maximum diameter of the form being provided by the hip shaping ring and not by the pneumatic portion of the form, a great saving in cost is effected as the inflat-Y able bust form can vbe made much Vshorter and of lesser diameter than heretofore. The deflation of the bust form permits of the collapsing and storing away of the parts in compact space. This storing away is facilitated by simply resting the bust form upon the base, as indicated, or by securing it thereto in such a way that it may be readily detached therefrom.

The dependent hip-forming portions 30 of the jacket provide a ready means for the pinning of the garment onto the form and the use of securinof pins is further facilitated by the soft lining (l0) to the jacket. This lining provides a hold for the pins even though the points of the pins be not brought out through the fabric of the jacket. The lining furthermore reduces the possibility of puncturing the inflated form. By having this lining attached to the jacket, which is removable, it is easy to repair the rubber form when punctured. The sides may be adjusted in shape adjacent the hips by a band 60 carried by brackets 6l as in Fig. 5.

Vhile the embodiments illustrated are the preferred constructions known to me at the present time, I would have it understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Thus the hip shaping and bottom marker bands may be made segmental instead of continuous. Various forms of buckles, hooks, catches or other fastening devices may be employed. The terms employed herein will therefore be understood as terms of description rather than of limitation, except as may be required by the prior art.

IVhat I claim is 1. In a garment form, a rigid base, an elastic inflatable form on said base, a jacket inolosing said form and relatively inelastic to thereby mold said form to the requisite shape, said jacket having portions dependent below the lower end of the inflatable form, outwardly adjustable brackets on the base and a shaping band carried by said brackets and connected with the dependent portions of the jacket.

2. In a garment form, a rigid base, an elastic inflatable form on said base, a jacket inclosing said form and relatively inelastic to thereby mold said form to the requisite shape, said jacket having portions dependent below the lower end of the inflatable form, a stand for supporting the device and flexible connections between the said stand and the dependent portions of the jacket.

3. In a garment form, a rigid base, an elastic inflatable form on said base, a jacket inclosing said form and relatively inelastic to thereby mold said form to the requisite shape, said jacket having portions dependent below the lower end of the inflatable form, a stand for supporting the device and flexible tapes connected between the stand and the dependent portions of the jacket, adjustable to vary the tension on the jacket.

4. In a garment form, a base, a standard, an elastic inflatable waist form carried by the upper part of said standard, a jacket inclosing said form and relatively inelastic to thereby mold said form to the requisite shape and a series of adjustable tapes constituting a skirt form and connecting the lower edge of said jacket with said base at various points around the sides whereby the inclination of the waist form may be varied relative to the skirt form by adjusting the length of said tapes to apply greater or less tension on said jacket at the necessary points.

5. In a garment form, an elastic inflatable bust form, a rigid base supporting said bust form, a band substantially conforming` to the maximum hip measurements supported below the base in a plane corresponding to that of the maximum hip measurements and a relatively inelastic jacket of the requisite configuration inclosing the elastic bust form and extending down below the base to the hip band aforesaid.

6. In a garment forni, an elastic inflatable bust form, a rigid base supporting said bust form, a band substantially conforming to the maximum hip measurements supported below the base in a plane corresponding to that of the maximum hip measurements, a relatively inelastic jacket of the requisite configuration inclosing the elastic bust form and extending down below the base to the hip band aforesaid, a stand for supporting the device and flexible connections from said stand to the hip band.

7. In a garment form, a stand, a base adjustably mounted on said stand, an elastic inflatable bust form supported von said base, a hip band adjustably supported below the base, a relatively inelastic jacket inclosing the bust form and extending on down below the base to the hip band and adjustable connections between the stand and the hip band.

8. In a garment form, a stand, a bust form supported thereon, brackets adjustably mounted in respect to said bust form, a jacket incasing the bust form and extending to said adjustably mounted brackets and flexible connections between said brackets and the stand providing a form for a skirt.

9. In a pneumatic form, a base, an inflatable form supported thereon and a member adjustably supported beneath the base, provided with an upwardly extending curved shaping portion extending above the base and engaging a part of the inflated form to vary the configuration thereof.

10. In a pneumatic form, a base, an inflatable form supported thereon, a member pivotally supported on the base provided with an upwardly extending curved shaping portion for engagement with the i11- flated form and means for adjusting said member to vary the configuration imparted by the shaped portion thereof to the inflated form.

11. Inl a pneumatic form, a base, -an inflatable form supportedv thereon, brackets on said base, a `shaping' ring carried by said' brackets and a form-engaging shaping element mounted on one of the said brackets.

12. Ina pneumatic form, a base, an in,- atable form supported thereon, `brackets on said base, a shaping ring carried by said brackets and a form-engaging shaping element adjustably mounted on one of the said brackets.

13. In a pneumatic form, a base, an inflatable form supported thereon, brackets adjustab'ly supported on said base, a shaping `ring carried by said brackets and a form-engaging shaping element mounted on one of the said brackets.

14. In a garment form, an inflatable bust form, a hip band lsupported below said bust form, and a jacket incasing the inflatable bust form, having downward .continuations extending on down to ythe 'hip band and there provided with hooks engaging with said band.

15. In a garment form, a bust form, a hip band, a jacket incasing the bust form and extending down to the hip band, a bottom band and flexible connections secured to one of said bands andadjustably secured to the other of said bands.

16. In a garment form, a bust form, a hip band, a jacket incasing the bust form and extending down to the hip band, a bottom band, buckles slidably engaged on one of said bands and flexible connections attached to the other of said bands .and adjustably engaging with said buckles.

V17. In a garment form, an elastic inflatable bust form, a `rigid base supporting said bust form, brackets on the base, a shaping band adjustable in said brackets, and a relatively inelastic jacket incasing lthe .form and connected with lthe 'shaping band.

18. In a garment form, an elastic inflatable bust form, a rigid base supporting Said bust form, bracket-s on :the base, avshaping band adjustable in said brackets, a relatively inelastic jacket incasing the formand connected with the shaping band, a stand, and adjustable connections between -said stand and the shaping band.

19. In a garment form, an elastic inflatable bust form, a hip band conforming to the hip dimensions and supported in a position corresponding to that -of the hips and a relatively inelastic jacket incasing'the inflated bust form and attached to the said hip band.

20. In a garment form, an elastic .inatable bust form, a base supporting said bust form and a hip band supported by said base in a position corresponding to that ofthe hips in relation to the bust form.

21. In a garment form, a stand, a bust form supported thereon, a hip Iband supported in position corresponding Vto that of the hip formation of the bust form, a jacket incasing` the ybustform and connected with the rhip band, and flexible connections extending from said jacket to the sta-nd and thereby providing a form for the skirt.

c ANNEsLEY DE Los ysMrrH.

Witnesses:

J. GILMAN, R. S. ALLYN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five `cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of CPatents,

Washington, D. C. 

